Butterfly Nectar Sources

Large clusters of light and medium coral and apricot colored flowers with a yellow 'throat' and contrasting dark flecks on these same three inner petals and sit atop sturdy 8-12" high stems that are produced from late spring or early summer into fall attracting bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. The Inca Husky^™ Alstroemeria or Peruvian Lilies were developed for the garden and have proven to be vigorous and reliable perennials potentially into zone 6. This is a compact growing, rhizomatous slowly spreading, sun to part shade tolerant perennial that can be utilized for summer to fall color in the garden and landscape as well as for showy, low-maintenance container specimens. Alstroemerias prefer an average moist, fertile, well-drained soil and tend to be sturdiest in sun to part shade locations. Where summers are hot consider providing shade or filtered shade during the hottest part of the day. These also serve as long-lasting and popular fresh cut flowers. Images courtesy of Könst Alstroemeria B.V., all rights reserved. Item# 12947

Large clusters of flowers that are composed of cherry red and deep pink outer tepals that subtend the darkly flecked cherry red and pink inner tepals are held on sturdy 8-12" high stems. From a distance the flowers tend to appear more red than pink. Flowering begins in spring or early summer and continues into fall attracting bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. The Inca Lolly^™ Alstroemeria or Peruvian Lilies were developed for the garden and have proven to be vigorous and reliable perennials potentially into zone 6. This is a compact growing, rhizomatous slowly spreading, sun to part shade tolerant perennial that can be utilized for summer to fall color in the garden and landscape as well as for showy, low-maintenance container specimens. Alstroemerias prefer an average moist, fertile, well-drained soil and tend to be sturdiest in sun to part shade locations. Where summers are hot consider providing shade or filtered shade during the hottest part of the day. These also serve as long-lasting and popular fresh cut flowers. Images courtesy of Könst Alstroemeria B.V., all rights reserved. Item# 12949

Large clusters of flowers that are composed of soft primrose yellow outer tepals that subtend the darker yellow inner tepals which are flecked with contrasting dark flecks on 10-14" high stems. Flowering begins in spring or early summer and continues into fall attracting bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. The Inca Sundance^™ Alstroemeria or Peruvian Lilies were developed for the garden and have proven to be vigorous and reliable perennials potentially into zone 6. This is a compact growing, rhizomatous slowly spreading, sun to part shade tolerant perennial that can be utilized for summer to fall color in the garden and landscape as well as for showy, low-maintenance container specimens. Alstroemerias prefer an average moist, fertile, well-drained soil and tend to be sturdiest in sun to part shade locations. Where summers are hot consider providing shade or filtered shade during the hottest part of the day. These also serve as long-lasting and popular fresh cut flowers. Images courtesy of Könst Alstroemeria B.V., all rights reserved. Item# 12948

The dense crown of dark purple filaments are held against a wonderfully contrasting foil of white to pale lavender petals and sepals on the 3-4" wide wonderfully fragrant flowers. Indigo Dream Passionflower, a Patrick Worley and Rick McCain hybrid with Incense in its parentage, is a moderately vigorous, naturally evergreen tropical vine that clings to supports via tendrils and makes an easy summer climber for medium to large trellises, arbors, or allow it to trail along a fence. It is considered to be root hardy into zone 9 and may remain evergreen in mild winter climates. Where not hardy it may be enjoyed as a container plant and overwintered in a sunny window. Caterpillar host: Gulf Fritillary, Julia Butterfly, Variegated Fritillary, and Zebra Longwing. Item# 12772

Long spikes of deep indigo, tubular flowers are borne continuously from spring to frost on this vigorous perennial Salvia. Indigo Spires has long been one of our favorites and is a reliable performer in the landscape producing a 3-4' high plant with medium green foliage. The nectar rich flowers provide fodder for a variety of pollinators including hummingbirds, butterflies, and a variety of bees but especially bumblebees in our gardens. The flower color may appear more purple or more blue to different people, in this case it is all in the eye of the beholder. Item# 13131

We fell in love instantly with this gorgeous Hibiscus! The summerlong display of large, 8"+ wide, ruffled and textured, deep rose pink flowers have an inner halo of lavender purple and are set against a backdrop of dark olive green foliage all on a heavy flowering well-branched plant. Inner Glow Perennial or Hardy Hibiscus is a vigorous clump-forming perennial that develops into a full, but compact well-branched plant with exceptional flower power. Like most other Walter's Gardens introductions, Inner Glow is an indeterminate plant producing flowers from the top to the bottom of the plants creating an amazing summer into fall display in the garden and landscape. Provide a full to mostly sunny location in moist to average moist to wet, moderately fertile soils. Images courtesy of Walter's Gardens, Inc., all rights reserved. Caterpillar host: Gray hairstreak. Item# 12843

In mid to late summer large clusters of frilly deep purple flowers sit atop short sturdy stems that are covered in fine dark green narrow foliage giving this tough as nails perennial as soft pleasing texture even when not in flower. Iron Butterfly Ironweed is as tough as its name implies, even though this is a selection of a rare species, it can tolerate short periods of drought or periodic inundation with ease. A nice tightly clump forming perennial from the works of Dr. Allen Armitage and the UGA horticulture program. The flowers provide much needed late summer fodder for bees, butterflies, and other garden beneficials. Item# 10929.

The 2-3" wide, white funnel shaped flowers are randomly flecked with pink to red and are produced in late spring. Iveryanum Azalea, a.k.a. Iveryana, is an heirloom dwarf Southern Indica hybrid developing into a 3' high mound of medium to deep green, medium textured, evergreen foliage. It lends itself to bonsai culture but is sure to be a low-maintenance conversation piece in the garden and landscape. Azaleas do best in average moist, acidic soils that are rich in organic matter but have good to excellent drainage and should be top dressed with an organic mulch such as pine straw and pine bark. We recommend using a slow-release, non-burning fertilizer that is labeled for acidic loving plants. Azalea flowers attract a variety of pollinators including bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Item# 12797

Jacob Cline is one of the more reliable selections of Scarlet Bee Balm producing large clusters of brilliant red tubular flowers atop sturdy 3-4' stems in summer. Considered to be one of the most vigorous and disease resistant cultivars available. A clump-forming, slowly spreading winter deciduous perennial that enjoys moist but well-drained soils and ample sunlight. A hummingbird magnet! Item# 10541.

An Allen Armitage 'no-brainer' perennial! The white full daisies are held atop and among the rich green foliage beginning in mid to late spring to early summer and continuing into fall. The nectar laden flowers are composed of multiple outer rows of white ray petals that have a light tinge of lavender surrounding a dense rounded mass of lemon tinged disc flowers. Japanese Aster, now classified as Aster iinumae previously Asteromea mongolica or Kalimeris mongolica, is a slowly spreading rhizomatous herbaceous bushy perennial growing to about 12-24"H x 18-24"W though some sources suggest that it may reach 36"H. This plant's reliability and flower power have garnered it a top spot among Dr. Armitage's list of "no-brainer" perennials. Provide a full sun to partly shaded site in average moist, average to well-drained, fertile soils for optimum vigor and flowering. Use this easy perennial in both the garden and landscape as a tall groundcover or specimen as well as for easy and free flowering container specimens. Caterpillar host: Field Crescent, Pearl Crescent, Texan Crescent, Roadside Checkerspot, Hoffman's Checkerspot, and American Lady.

Images courtesy of North Creek Nurseries, all rights reserved. Item# 13150

The top performer in both attracting pollinators and disease resistance in the Mt. Cuba Center's trials! Huge conical clusters of smaller than typical fragrant lavender-pink flowers are produced over an extended period beginning in midsummer and lasting into fall attracting a host of pollinators including butterflies, hummingbirds, and larger bees. Jeana Garden Phlox is an exceptionally vigorous and free flowering selection of our native Phlox paniculata whose stems can touch on 5' by the end of the growing season. This is a hardy, clump forming, deciduous perennial preferring a full to mostly sunny site in an acidic, average moist, fertile soil with average or better drainage. Images courtesy of North Creek Nurseries, Inc., all rights reserved. Item# 13194

The 2-3" wide mainly white flowers have a nicely contrasting deep cherry red blotch and flecks but are occasionally light pink to light lavender and are produced in mid to late spring. Johga Azalea, a sport of Izayoi and sometimes spelled 'Joga', is a dwarf Satsuki evergreen azalea that slowly develops into a 2-3' high mound of deep green medium-texured foliage. It lends itself to bonsai culture but is sure to be a low-maintenance conversation piece in the garden and landscape. Azaleas do best in average moist, acidic soils that are rich in organic matter but have good to excellent drainage and should be top dressed with an organic mulch such as pine straw and pine bark. We recommend using a slow-release, non-burning fertilizer that is labeled for acidic loving plants. Azalea flowers attract a variety of pollinators including bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Item# 12799

This easy Garden Phlox produces large domed clusters of dark-eyed, light pink, fragrant flowers on tall sturdy stems with mildew resistant foliage. The show starts in early summer and may continue nearly until the first frost with this reliable and fragrant Garden Phlox if deadheaded. Phlox is adored by butterflies and hummingbirds alike! John Fanick, named for the Texas nurseryman, is only one of a handful of Garden Phlox varieties recommended for southern gardens by noted Texas plantsman Greg Grant. Item# 10267

One of the top performers in Mt. Cuba Center's Monarda Trials! The dense whorled, almost ball-like clusters of 2" long tubular, fuchsia flowers are subtended by darker fuchsia and purple bracts. The flowers are supported on tall sturdy stems to about 40-48" high beginning in late spring to early summer and attracting hummingbirds, larger butterflies, hummingbird moths, and bees. Judith's Fancy Fuchsia Beebalm, a likely an offspring of a promiscuous Monarda didyma and M. fistulosa, is a taller growing cultivar that has proven to have excellent resistance to powdery mildew. This is a slowly spreading hardy perennial that generally prefers a moist to average moist, fertile soil, optimally in full sun with good air circulation. The seeds are also enjoyed by songbirds. Item# 12952

The 3 1/2" wide, ruffled, deep red funnel shaped flowers are produced in early to midspring and are somewhat reminiscent of the old favorite Red Ruffles. Katherine Allison Azalea, is an evergreen Dr. Eugene Aromi hybrid named for his granddaughter, having good vigor and with an initially upright habit eventually mounding out to about 4-5' high and wide. Developed in Mobile, Alabaman these were bred for good performance in the heat and humidity of the Southeast. Katherine Allison Azalea can be utilized as an informal hedge, specimen or anywhere else you would use a spring flowering medium-sized evergreen shrub in the garden and landscape. Azaleas do best in average moist, acidic soils that are rich in organic matter but have good to excellent drainage and should be top dressed with an organic mulch such as pine straw and pine bark. We recommend using a slow-release, non-burning fertilizer that is labeled for acidic loving plants. Azalea flowers attract a variety of pollinators including bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Item# 12800

Loads of pink, trumpet-shaped flowers are tucked among and atop the narrow dark green foliage from spring to frost all on a low and compact plant. Flowers of the Mexican Petunia attracting bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. Katie Pink Dwarf Ruellia, a selection of R. tweediana or sometimes R. simplex, is a dwarf, root hardy, clump-forming, naturally evergreen tropical that is adorned in narrow deep green, sometimes tinged with purple or bronze tones, weeping foliage creating small individual mounds on their own similar to Liriope. Use this heat and sunloving, shade-tolerant perennial as a border, groundcover, as well as a filler in container gardens. In zones 8-9, Ruellia act like die-back perennials that freeze back and then return from their crown in spring once the weather and soil temperatures begin to properly warm. An insulative but breathable organic mulch will help to ensure their return in areas that experience freezing temperatures. Easy and reliable! Item# 917

Clusters of pinkish purple flowers with a white eye sit atop sturdy stems and are borne in late spring and early summer. Kim Carolina Phlox is a slowly spreading evergreen perennial well suited to the front of the garden and its nectar rich flowers attract a variety of pollinators including butterflies and hummingbirds. A disease and mildew resistant easy care native. Item# 10913.

Voted in the top 5 by visitors in 2020 Echinacea trials at Mt. Cuba Center! Brilliant glowing orange-red rays that fade into yellow-orange pastels in late summer surround the dark orange rounded cones of disk flowers on the 3-4" wide flowers atop sturdy 18" high stems beginning in late spring and continuing into early fall. KISMET® Intense Orange Coneflower is a hybrid Echinacea selected for its exceptionally long flowering season, brilliant colors, as well as its perennial reliability as a garden plant. Coneflowers are clump forming perennials whose often fragrant flowers are adored by butterflies, bees, and other pollinators that can be enjoyed as part of the sunny garden garden and landscape as well as for container specimens. Leave seedheads for fall and winter songbirds to enjoy. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in an average moist, well-drained, fertile soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Photos courtesy of TERRA NOVA® Nurseries, Inc. www.terranovanurseries.com, all rights reserved. Item# 12784

The large two tone flowers are composed of large lemonade pink rays tipped in a starkly contrasting pastel yellow surrounding dark cones and are held on sturdy 14-18" branching stems from late spring or early summer until fall. KISMET® Pink Lemonade Coneflower is a hybrid Echinacea selected for its exceptionally long flowering season, rich colors, compact branching habit, as well as its perennial reliability as a garden plant. Coneflowers are clump forming perennials whose often fragrant flowers are adored by butterflies, bees, and other pollinators that can be enjoyed as part of the sunny garden garden and landscape as well as for container specimens. Leave seedheads for fall and winter songbirds to enjoy. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in an average moist, well-drained, fertile soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Photos courtesy of TERRA NOVA® Nurseries, Inc. www.terranovanurseries.com, all rights reserved. Item# 13321

#5 overall in 2020 Echinacea trials at Mt. Cuba Center! Intense raspberry red rays surround the dark orange rounded cones of disk flowers on the 3-5" wide flowers atop sturdy 18-24" high stems beginning in late spring and continuing into early fall. KISMET® Raspberry Coneflower is a hybrid Coneflower selected for its exceptionally long flowering season, brilliant color, extra large flowers, as well as its perennial reliability as a garden plant. Coneflowers are clump forming perennials whose often fragrant flowers are adored by butterflies, bees, and other pollinators that can be enjoyed as part of the sunny garden garden and landscape as well as for container specimens. Leave seedheads for fall and winter songbirds to enjoy. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in an average moist, well-drained, fertile soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Photos courtesy of TERRA NOVA® Nurseries, Inc. www.terranovanurseries.com, all rights reserved. Item# 12785

The full, rounded, funnel shaped, rich rosy red flowers are randomly marbled with splashes of white, but can also be solid red, pink, or near solid white, are produced in mid to late spring attracting bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Kobai #2 Evergreen Azalea, a.k.a Red Plum, is a rare Satsuki hybrid with a dwarf compact, naturally rounded mound forming habit making this a popular choice for bonsai but it is equally desirable in the garden and landscape where its multi-colored flowers are sure to make a big splash. Provide your evergreen Azaleas with a well-drained, average moist, humus rich, acid soil and topdress with an organic mulch for the best results. Item# 12574

The dark coppery to burgundy colored cloak of foliage is topped by a summer long display of large full light pink to near white flowers that are delicately marked with darker pink veining and a burgundy eye. A truly remarkable contrast that is impossible to miss in the landscape! A clump forming moisture loving perennial, Kopper King's compact habit and dark foliage make it a stand out when sited behind Louisiana Irises or next to the chartreuse foliage of Maui Gold Elephant Ears. Caterpillar host: Gray hairstreak. Image courtesy of North Creek Nurseries. Item# 10925